638 



MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



period in the household, to estimate the amount of various nutrients 

 which the different materials contain by means of figures given for 

 the average composition of the various articles in tables, like Table 

 I, and then to calculate the cost and amount of nutrients for each 

 person. There are, however, several chances for error in such a 

 method. In the more careful dietary studies, the composition of the 

 food is determined by analyzing samples of materials actually used, 

 and this method assumes that all the food is really consumed, whereas 

 it is very plain that frequently no small portion is wasted in the 

 kitchen, and the amounts of nutrients in the waste are computed by 

 analyzing samples of it. 



In preparing the results of dietary studies so that different 

 studies may be compared, another difficulty appears. In a family 

 consisting of father, mother, and two children of different ages the 

 amount of food taken by each is by no means the same, and it would 

 be quite incorrect to divide the whole amounts consumed by four 

 and call the result the amount used per person. It is customary to 

 reduce the food requirements to the standard of one man at mod- 

 erate work. 



Relative Values for Food Requirements of Persons of Different Age 

 and Occupation as Compared with a Man in Full Vigor at Moder- 

 ate Work. 



Man, period of full vigor: 



At moderate work 100 



Athardwork 120 



Sedentary occupation 80 



Woman, period of full vigor: 



At moderate work 80 



At hard work . 100 



Sedentary occupation 70 



Man or woman: 



Old age 90 



Extreme old age 70-80 



Boy: 



15 to 16 years old 90 



13 to 14 years old 80 



12 years old 70 



10 to 11 years old 60 



Girl: 



15 to 16 years old 80 



13 to 14 years old 70 



10 to 12 years old 60 



Child: 



6 to 9 years old. 50 



2 to 5 years old 40 



Child under 2 years old 30 



These factors are based in part upon experimental data and in 

 part upon arbitrary assumptions. In making dietary studies in this 

 country blanks are usually prepared to be filled out with statistics 

 of the amounts, kinds, cost, and estimated nutrients of the food 

 purchased, wasted, and actually consumed, and information con- 

 cerning the number, sex, age, and occupation of the persons for 

 whom the food is provided. Further data concerning the health, 

 nationality, income, and general conditions of the individuals of 

 families have been collected in considerable detail in late studies in 

 the United States. 



AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN DIETARY STANDARDS. 



Many interesting things come to light on comparing the die- 

 taries of persons with different occupations and incomes and per- 

 forming different amounts of muscular work. A comparison of the 

 dietaries of the inhabitants of different countries is also interesting. 

 Such comparisons are made in the following table, which includes 



